an entertaining moan about modern society (Talk to the Hand - Lynne Truss)

Member Name: brokenangel

Product:	Talk to the Hand - Lynne Truss
Date:	26/04/09 (137 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: entertaining

Disadvantages: slightly negative tone

If you enjoyed reading 'Eats, Shoots and Leaves' then you will surely enjoy this book. Truss' written style is engaging and feels almost like you are listening to a friend chatter away - albeit a friend with rather a lot of complaints!

The book is essentially a complaint about modern rudeness, of which the phrase 'talk to the hand', sometimes followed up with ''cos the face ain't listening', is an excellent example. This is not a guide to modern manners or etiquette, as Truss makes clear in her introduction, but there is some substance behind the light style, as is demonstrated by the bibliography. Essentially, there are six chapters in which Truss uses a mixture of conjecture, anecdote (lots of anecdotes) and historical detail to express her disgust at the lack of politeness, wonder where it went and establish the reasons why this is a problem.

The issues she targets are unlikely to be divisive, although I do wonder whether teenagers really have any concept of private and public space anymore, so it may not appeal to those who grew up with msn always in the background and a phone in which to shout 'yeah, well, I'm on the TRAIN!' Mobile phone use, unnecessary use of the F-word and eating in public are all criticised and possible explanations for their common occurrence considered.

Although Truss' style is humorous and occasionally made me giggle, the points she makes are those that (if you are like me, anyway,) you can't help nodding along with. Why must people discuss their best mates' sex life at top volume while you're sitting next to them on a bus? In this respect, the book is an insight into modern life in Britain.

Perhaps what is missing from this book is any kind of hope. Truss complains and makes ironic comments a form of 'fighting back' but doesn't seem to see any real hope for change in the future. The message seems to be that society is falling apart due to a general lack of respect and all we can do is look back nostalgically. Still, if you have ever found yourself wondering why on earth you've just been told to 'f-off' by a complete stranger, then this may well be the right book to entertain you for a few hours. That said I would imagine that you'd only really want to read it once, so recommend borrowing it before making a purchase.

Summary: borrow before you buy: a one time read